Women's Euro 2025: Spain already in steamroller mode against Portugal

Even with Aitana Bonmati spared after her meningitis, Spain thrashed Portugal 5-0 in Bern on Thursday in their opening match of the Women's Euro 2020, kicking off their quest for their first continental title in style. Already two goals ahead after seven minutes, the reigning world champions took the lead in Group B, level with Italy, who earlier beat Belgium 1-0.

In a boiling Wankdorf stadium, in front of nearly 30,000 spectators, the artificial turf in no way troubled the tournament favorites, who were technically superior, aggressive in their pressing, and highly organized. It will take a different opponent than the Navigators, already clearly dominated by their Iberian rivals in April's Nations League (7-1, 4-2), to test the solidity of the Spanish defense, which was barely challenged on Thursday.

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From their first collective move, Montsé Tomé 's players scored thanks to a long pass from Olga Carmona to Esther Gonzalez, who finished with her toe (1-0, 2nd). Five minutes later, the experienced striker from Gotham (United States), 32, it was the 18-year-old prodigy Vicky Lopez, the highly anticipated incarnation of the future Roja, who increased the score by cutting out a ball from Caldentey (2-0, 7th).

Hardly inhibited by her starting place in place of double Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who is recovering from viral meningitis contracted last week and came on in the 81st minute, Lopez lit up the Spanish midfield with her dribbling and the accuracy of her passes. While Ines Pereira saved her goal against Vicky Lopez (24th) then Claudia Pina (35th), Alexia Putellas then worsened the score after a number in the box: chest control, right feint, left shot (3-0, 41st).

The Barcelona midfielder, who won two Ballon d'Or awards in 2021 and 2022 but was sidelined from the last Euro due to a serious left knee injury, wore the captain's armband as a replacement for the suspended Irene Paredes. Just before the break, Esther Gonzalez scored a superb brace, volleying home a left-footed shot from Claudia Pina that had initially hit the post (4-0, 43').

And after a less lively second half, Cristina Martin-Prieto scored a final goal by heading in a Salma Paralluelo cross with just seconds left (5-0, 90th + 3). Unfurled even before the players had warmed up, a banner reading "Fight sexism" , flanked by the slogan #seacabo ( "enough is enough" ), however, served as a reminder of the extra-sporting turmoil suffered by the Spanish women over the past two years, a shadow they are still trying to dispel.

Their triumph at the 2023 World Cup was marred by the kiss imposed by former Federation president Luis Rubiales on striker Jenni Hermoso, the team's all-time leading scorer not selected for this Euro. The two Euro matches played on Thursday began with a moment of silence in tribute to Liverpool's Portuguese international Diogo Jota and his brother André, also a footballer, who died in a road accident in Spain last night.